Students Attend AIPAC Policy Conference

A delegation of fourteen Milken students attended the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference, March 4-6 in Washington, D.C. They joined delegates from around the world to participate in workshops on Israel Advocacy and receive political action training to become effective pro-Israel political advocates.

Approximately 18,000 Israel advocates and more then 3,600 students attended. Political leaders including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Vice President Mike Pence, and United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley were among the speakers featured at the conference.

 
One of the sessions that resonated most with Nicole Bardi ’19 was on how to stand up to the Boycott, Divest, Sanctions (BDS) movement, since it might be an issue she will confront during college. It helped prepare her for things she might encounter and provided the tools for her to address it. Yonit Robin ’19 said one of her favorite parts of the conference was learning about Israel's many accomplishments and innovations. She enjoyed walking through the AIPAC Village, which showcased Israeli startups, which reminded her of Israel's influence and power as a country.

Students carved out time from their full schedules for sightseeing, visiting the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and the National Mall. There was plenty of bonding time as the delegation sat together at plenaries, and convened after sessions to discuss and reflect on what they learned.  

Inspired by the theme of the conference, “Choose to Lead,” students returned energized and empowered and ready to flex their advocacy muscles. “Going on AIPAC and learning about issues that affect Israel by the decisions made in the USA has impassioned me to take action,” remarked Bardi. “I am looking forward to becoming an Israel activist by educating my congressmen about threats to Israel, such as anti-Israel propaganda and deals, in order to maintain Israel’s strength and security outside its borders.”

“I would like to hopefully prepare a group of students at Milken to lobby at either Schusterman or Policy Conference next year, as I believe that this is the next step in Milken's involvement in AIPAC and that we have the potential to do so and can contribute a lot,” said Robin.

 
The conference was a memorable and powerful experience for those that attended. Bardi described a pivotal moment for her as “gathering in a room filled with Jews, Christians, African Americans, and Hispanic Americans from all over the United States, setting aside our political views and uniting to clap hands together for our lawmakers who spoke about how they have come together to support Israel, a homeland to all of us.”

“My experience at the 2018 AIPAC Policy Conference was dominated by two emotions: pride and hope,” said Dr. Schwartz. “Pride in the commitment that members of the Milken community showed by participating in this event, of the relationship that exists between Israel and the United States, and the role our Milken community members play in ensuring the strength of that relationship. I also felt immense hope for the future. The AIPAC Policy Conference represented our ability to agree on a core issue and set of values, across countries, across political party affiliations, and across religious denominations.”


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